Fiona Bruce is in the money

Fiona Bruce, the BBC presenter, sees accumulated profits rise to almost
£500,000 at her management company

Fiona Bruce's company made a profit for the year of £142,387 Photo: BBC

6:00AM GMT 03 Jan 2012

Fiona Bruce is laughing all the way to the bank. Figures from Companies House show that the BBC presenter’s management company, Paradox Productions, has built up accumulated profits of £467,414,

The figure for 2011 compares with £325,027 for 2010 and means that Bruce’s company made a profit for the year of £142,387 – slightly less than the £150,000 that the BBC is said to pay her annually. The accounts show her company is cash rich to the tune of £587,343.

Fox speaks out

Although Benedict Cumberbatch, the Sherlock star, says that speaking with a “posh” accent has resulted in typecasting for him, Edward Fox, his fellow thespian, says good diction should be celebrated.

What is more, the man who made such a good job of playing Edward VIII wishes that politicians, so far from resorting to “Estuary English” in the manner of Tony Blair, would pay more attention to their oratory.

“I know that nobody could possibly compete with the melody of Sir Winston Churchill’s speeches, but there isn’t a politician who even comes close. I only wish that Boris Johnson spoke as well as he writes because I think his column in The Daily Telegraph is very good indeed. He bumbles and mutters when he speaks and I can’t help but think it is an act. I only wish he wouldn’t do it.” So who does Fox rate as a political orator? “Harold Macmillan was good, and even Sir Harold Wilson, in his Labour way. I don’t think much of David Cameron as an orator, though, I must say.”

Premature burial

I have been all but buried by entries for the Mandrake Christmas quiz. There is still time, however, to have a chance of winning a bottle of fizz – entries don't close until Jan 9 2012.